Upgrading your business phone system does not always mean buying new phones. Many existing desk phones already work with modern internet-based phone services. Answer a few quick questions about what is on your desks right now and we will tell you whether you can keep them, need adapters, or should start fresh.
Not sure? You can skip this -- it will not affect your result.
Your phones likely already support SIP, which means they can connect directly to a hosted VOIP service. Your provider can check the exact model during setup and pre-configure them remotely. You probably do not need to buy anything.
Most modern business desk phones from Yealink, Cisco, Polycom, and Grandstream are SIP-compatible out of the box. If you have a model number on the bottom of the phone, a quick search for "[brand] [model] SIP" will confirm it.
Want someone to check for you? Providers like Maxotel include a free equipment audit as part of their onboarding. They will tell you exactly what you can keep and what needs replacing -- no obligation.
Check if your phones are compatible -- talk to MaxotelAnalog phones connect to traditional phone line sockets and do not speak SIP natively. That means they will not plug directly into a hosted VOIP service. But you have a choice about what to do next.
For most businesses, replacing with entry-level SIP phones is the better long-term move. The cost difference is small and you get the full feature set from day one.
Want someone to check for you? Providers like Maxotel include a free equipment audit as part of their onboarding. They will tell you exactly what you can keep and what needs replacing -- no obligation.
Check if your phones are compatible -- talk to MaxotelYou are using the basic VOIP service bundled with your internet plan. This uses the green phone port on your ISP-supplied modem. It works for basic calls, but it has no business features -- no call queuing, no auto-attendant, no voicemail-to-email, no hold music.
Switching to a proper hosted VOIP service gives you all of those features and typically costs less than you would expect. Your current phone handset will need replacing with a SIP phone, but entry-level models start from around $89 AUD.
Want someone to check for you? Providers like Maxotel include a free equipment audit as part of their onboarding. They will tell you exactly what you can keep and what needs replacing -- no obligation.
Check if your phones are compatible -- talk to MaxotelYou do not need any desk phones at all unless you want them. Modern VOIP services include softphone apps that run on your existing mobiles and computers. You get a proper business number, call transfer, voicemail, and auto-attendant -- all through an app.
If you eventually want desk phones, entry-level SIP phones start from $89 AUD and your provider can pre-configure them before shipping. But for a mobile-first team, softphones are the natural fit.
Want someone to check for you? Providers like Maxotel include a free equipment audit as part of their onboarding. They will tell you exactly what you can keep and what needs replacing -- no obligation.
Check if your phones are compatible -- talk to MaxotelNo problem. Here are four quick ways to work out what you have.
Want someone to check for you? Providers like Maxotel include a free equipment audit as part of their onboarding. They will tell you exactly what you can keep and what needs replacing -- no obligation.
Check if your phones are compatible -- talk to MaxotelTell us what you have and we will match you with a provider who will audit your existing phones at no cost -- before you commit to anything.
Get a RecommendationMost consumer cordless phones (Panasonic, Uniden) are analog and will not connect directly to a VOIP service. You would need an ATA adapter or a replacement with a DECT SIP phone like the Yealink W73H. ATA adapters cost $40-80 AUD and let you reuse your existing handsets, but you lose features like on-screen caller ID and one-touch transfer.
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is the standard protocol that VOIP systems use to make and receive calls over the internet. A SIP phone is any phone designed to communicate using this protocol. Most modern business desk phones -- including Yealink, Cisco, Polycom, and Grandstream models -- are SIP phones and will work with any hosted VOIP provider that supports SIP, which is virtually all of them in Australia.
Entry-level SIP desk phones such as the Yealink T31G and Grandstream GRP2601 start from around $89-149 AUD. Mid-range models with colour screens and Bluetooth (Yealink T43U, T46U) run $200-350 AUD. High-end models with touchscreens and video capability can reach $500-800 AUD. Your provider may supply phones as part of a bundle or monthly hardware rental, which can reduce the upfront cost.
Yes. Most hosted VOIP providers -- including Maxotel -- pre-configure phones before shipping them to you. You receive a phone that is already registered to your account. You plug it into your network port and it starts working. No technical knowledge is required on your end. Some providers also offer remote re-provisioning, which means they can update phone settings without anyone needing to physically touch the device.
Any standard USB or Bluetooth headset works with softphone apps on your computer or mobile. For physical desk phones, most Yealink and Polycom models have a headset port and support popular headsets from Plantronics / Poly and Jabra. If your staff work on headsets full-time, let your provider know -- they can recommend compatible models and configure the phone to default to headset mode.